122. Epilogue
Epilogue
O ne month later…
Anya
I won’t cry, I won’t cry, I won’t cry, I chant to myself.
“I give up,” I sigh.
“What, my beloved?”
“I’ve been telling myself not to cry, but that’s a fool’s errand, right?”
Shit. When I realize what I just said, I break out in tears. Why did I have to say the words fool’s errand? That’s what I’m crying about.
“It’s going to be fine,” Rynn says. They’ve gotten really good at squeezing me when they talk, so I know who says what. It works pretty well. Now I know who to reward with kisses and who to tease mercilessly. “We’re just embarking on a new adventure. It’s not an ending so much as a new beginning.”
“New beginning, huh?” I ask. “Is that going to be part of your speech?”
“Aye,” says Zar.
Our journey to the gangway is deliberately slow. It’s as if I’m saying a mental goodbye to every metal wall and doorway. Yeah, I know I’ll visit, but it will never truly be the same.
Everyone is already waiting for us on the tarmac. I don’t know how we managed it, but the three of us are the last to arrive. We’re standing between the two ships—the Fool’s Errand and its sister ship, the Devil’s Playground.
“Everything’s changing,” I say, unable to keep my voice from sounding like a sad three-year-old.
“Aye, love. If it doesn’t work out, we can change our minds.”
But we won’t. Because this decision is for the best.
“Maddie and I looked,” calls speckled, red-skinned Stryker as he approaches us. He holds up a liquor bottle. “We couldn’t find the stuff you call champagne. You’re really going to use a bottle of Sillerian whiskey? Sorry to say it, but that sounds like a terrible waste.”
“He’s right,” Rynn says. “Not that I drink the stuff, but it will all just end up on the ground.”
No one’s in a very talkative mood. They’re all looking expectantly at us. Maybe the festivities Maddie has planned for afterward will perk us all up.
“Got your speech, babe?” I ask Zar.
“Of course.” He pats the leather pouch he wears around his waist. It’s the galaxy’s sexiest fanny pack.
Everyone hushes and gathers round us, and after he consults his notes, Zar begins solemnly.
“Welcome everyone. You’re all my friends, comrades, brothers, and sisters.” He pauses to look each person in the eyes.
I’m doing the same as I mentally remind myself of my history with each of these people. Although we’ve shared soul-crushing slavery and hair-raising close calls together, what pops into my mind are all the good times we’ve had. The weddings, feasts, celebrations, and funny moments. In one way or another, I love each one of these people.
There are even some new faces in the crowd. Three high-ranking Ton’arr soldiers Valeris assigned to our ship.
“As you know, I’ve agonized over this decision, and I think it’s the best for all of us. I’ve known many of you mated couples have yearned for children, but I kept firm in my belief that no babies should be born on a warship. And make no mistake, we’re at war.”
He pinches the bridge of his feline nose. He thinks it’s a smooth move, but we all know it’s to hold back his own tears. I quit trying. Wet rivulets are sliding down my face already.
“It’s a sound decision to move almost all the mated couples to the Fool’s Errand and change her mission from warship to freighter. You’ll be taking easier missions, nothing illegal. There are plenty of ways to make legal credits in this galaxy. Some of you may want to keep fighting non-lethal cestus matches. Perhaps on our friends’ Sanctuary compound where they’ve rebuilt an ancient arena. No death matches there.”
When I take a moment, through my tear-stained vision, I see there’s hardly a dry eye in the crowd.
“We’re here to christen the Devil’s Playground with a new name. This decision didn’t come easily, but Kato’s factions have vowed to pursue us. His son, Dasteron, my own cousin, will follow in his father’s footsteps and keep making attempts on my father’s life. Since we were the factor that propelled Valeris to victory, we’re now going to be in Dasteron’s sights. He’s championing what they’re calling the Prosperity Party. Prosperity indeed. Prosperity to line the rich’s pockets.
“If being their enemy isn’t bad enough, we all know the MarZan cartel will never let up. We’ll be their target for annums to come. To fight them, we’re going to be lean and mean. Warriors. And that’s why we’re here to christen the Playground with her new name: the Galaxy Warrior .”
The crowd politely claps. I think we’re all in too much shock to be enthusiastic. Savannah, a warrior in her own right, and Maximus’s mate Raine who is a doctor, will be the only females on the ship besides me. Not only will the Warrior be full of testosterone, gladiators will be streaking naked through the halls. I imagine there will be endless rounds of dirty drinking songs being sung in the dining room.
I don’t worry about the danger. We’ve always been in danger. Nor do I worry about the naked gladiator asses or bawdy songs. I get a kick out of their playful exuberance. I’ll just miss my friends.
“I may no longer be the captain of the Fool’s Errand , that honor goes to Captain Beast, but I’m decreeing that from this day forward, we meet for Blessed Peace Day each annum at Sanctuary. No excuses,” he scolds.
Shadow hands him the bottle of Sillerian whiskey and the two can’t manage to do it without a long, heartfelt hug. They could barely tolerate each other at first, but they’ve been best friends for years.
Shadow argued, wanting to follow his captain to the Warrior, but Zar refused. Shadow and his mate Petra should be on the safer ship. They’ve yearned to have a child.
A child. Yeah. I can’t lie. I want one, too. A little lion-baby would no doubt be adorable. Zar-Rynn and I have discussed it at length. There will come a time when we’ll settle down. Zar will eventually take over the throne on Ton’arr. Dear God, that means our children will be princes and princesses. It will take a while to wrap my mind around that.
In the meantime, we’ll fly through the galaxy, keep the heat off the Fool’s Errand , and continue being galactic Robin Hoods. Which may make things sound nobler than they are, but I prefer to think of it that way. We’ll fight MarZan and what remains of the Prosperity Party and hopefully free a lot of slaves on our travels.
Zar has to hit the whiskey bottle against the hull of the ship three times in order for it to break. I hear more than a few whispered, “Why would anyone waste a good bottle of whiskey for this?” before Zar consults his notes and intones, “Spilling this whiskey is to symbolize good luck and safe travel for all aboard. Here’s to long and happy and loving lives for all of us. Here’s to new beginnings.”
He looks at the crowd and despite the bittersweet moment, we all clap and cheer and the males stomp their feet.
Zar
She’s crying, Zar.
We knew she would. It’s a big change for all of us. I’m sad, too. The last annums were the best of my life.
Aye.
You called it a new adventure, Rynn. It will be.
Everyone in the crowd is hugging and sharing what they’ll miss about each other. In between well-wishes, I turn my attention inside and look at my soulbound brother, my friend—Rynn.
I’d say our grand venture is going well. I tell him. When he lifts his handsome human eyebrow, I amend , Our triad.
Aye. He laughs, then looks at me. I’m sounding more like you every day.
I’m happier than I’ve ever been,” I tell him . I have the love of the best woman in the galaxy, and the finest friend who will never leave my side.
He nods, his eyes shining more brightly than normal.
I like knowing we’ll always be together, I tell him. We make a good team. Your knowledge has been invaluable in helping with this new endeavor. I count on you in the tight squeezes and for the long-haul. You’ll be my most trusted counselor when I’m… king.
It’s still hard to believe that will be my future, but my parents and I have had some long talks. My reign on Ton’arr is definitely coming. That’s when I’ll give my beloved a youngling.
She walks over and slides her arm around my waist. Rynn grips her wrist, and I encircle her ankle with my tail.
“It’s all going to be alright, isn’t it?” she asks, looking up at me with a smile.
“Not alright, Beloved.” I lean to give her a kiss filled with love and promise. “It’s going to be amazing.”